Oh, goodie! I don't hate any of it except being hot and sweaty. If it's cool I can work all day..full of energy. I love the fresh air, watching the sky and birds, sounds of the critters (flying, chirping, meowing), watching my yard change every year and get prettier, knowing I'm getting my Vit D and good exercise. Being a part of the miracle of life cycles of all the things that are around me...it's a spiritual thing to me...my place of wonder...my sanctuary.

When I was building models for architects and developers, I got such thrill from walking out of their office with plans and elevations on paper or a cd knowing that in 3-6 weeks, I would be returning with their vision made real. I do the same thing now, but it's my vision. I get to be creative, and I get to satisfy my need for the technical aspect. I get to watch seeds come alive and grow and flower and return to seed again. This may be my first year of having great success, but now that I know the secrets, I'll continue to evolve and do what I can to make it bigger and better each year.

There's no gardening task I hate. If I did, I wouldn't be doing this. I like watering. I hate mosquitoes. I like weeding. I hate spiders and snakes that cross my path. I like spreading leaf mulch to create a new bed or embellish an older one with new nutrients. I hate sore muscles.

I see everything as a challenge. I like making people stop and go, oooh. Even old grumpy lady came by this week for a visit. She'd been wanting to see what I've done in the yard. She spent many days with the lady that used to own this house. Her gardens were extensive. And even the grumpy woman said that mine were beautiful and she would be proud of me if she were still alive. Next week I'll take her some cut flowers and a mess of squash.

... agree with above posts!

Okay, hate was a strong word - but there ARE annoyances and they are so little compared to the joys we feel when we are outside... I think my whole body is stronger because I garden - mind and body.. and that's a good thing..

Carrie

Like Token, it's my creative outlet. I'm not what I would describe as an artistic person, but I see a garden as a work of art using flowers instead of paints, and dirt instead of a canvas. So when I see a combination in my head, and then watch it come to life, it brings much satisfaction to me.

I love digging in the dirt.

I love planting seeds and seeing them sprout.

I love the surprise of the first bloom on a new plant.

I'm not going to say I love weeding. I guess I see it as a penance of some sort, but it can be relaxing in that my mind is not on anything but the task at hand, so any worries are put aside temporarily.

I love watching the hummingbirds and butterflies. The grasshoppers ... not so much.

Bonnie

I was going to put a simple answer to that then I started thinking oh that and that oh and yes that. Well heres my "simple" answer.

My flowers make me smile, I love to hear the birds sing. I actually take it as a compliment when I just finished working in a bed and momma robin excorts baby robin to the juicy worms I just uncovered. I enjoy when the neighbors are like oh my girl your flowers are so pretty what is that called. I enjoy the sun and the heat it makes me feel good to work up a sweat. I love it when my husband says yeah that looks good.

I guess the worse part about gardening is that we are kinda "limited" to what we can and can not do where we currently live. No worries though one day that will change.

For me the worst part of gardening is running out of room. The best part is being outside and so much closer to nature. When I add compost to my beds I know I'm giving back to the earth what my plants are taking, but the joy is in giving back. I don't particulary like raking leaves or shredding them, but I know that process will help the compost items break down faster.

The joy I get from seeing the flowers open, is just something that touches my heart. This year I only WS'd 28 containers, I've got one left to plant, tall snap dragons, but my beds are so full I'm not sure where I'm going to put them.

Alberta

...creative outlet... that's a terrific way to describe our gardening habits of moving plant around, arranging and trying to coordinate colors and textures and just the joy of digging in the dirt...

Does anyone think it is "in the blood" - My grandfather had a nursery and my uncle was a landscape designer (not that I can "design landscapes"..) but it may be in the blood to want to work in the dirt.

I also get annoyed about the mosquitos and ugly spiders and I can get irritated when it is in the 90s and I can't work as well outside (or at all...) but I can't find anything else to replace the satisfaction I get from gardening... I kissed a flower once that was just so beautiful.. I mean how could I resist?

Carrie

Possibly, in my blood. My Grandpa on my Dad's side and my grandparents on my Mom's did lots of gardening.

It is creative for me too. I also get a thrill when stuff blooms. Even if it was not what I planned.

I don't like the sweating and fighting the critters!

Other than those I love
Digging
planting
arranging
re-arranging
picking out plants and seeds
in general just getting dirty...

I'm sure it is in the blood. My grandmother, her mother and my mother, not to speak of the great-aunts all loved growing things. And my dad was the seed-collector. Mom sent me some old Portulaca seeds he had gathered and packed probably a good thirty years ago.

I love being part of that chain, and love seeing, smelling and tasting what I've helped grow. I guess I still marvel when I see the process from seed to bloom happen every year. Brings out the kid in me :)

my response to this:

"to get the final results that we are usually not that happy about "

Is what can I say, I live in Chicago and Im a Cubs Fan, Im used to "Waiting till next year".....

:)

Carrie: "Does anyone think it is "in the blood"

Of course it's in our blood! It wasn't that many generations ago, when gardening was the only source of fruits and vegetables a family had. "Gardening" was their only hope for survival. The seeds may have changed from being mostly a food source, buying veggies has now come into vogue... but the appreciation of a well tended earth has not. The feelings of being closer to God in a garden hasn't changed either.

Mankind was born in a garden, God's first request was:

Genesis 2:15: Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Of course it's in our blood.

Doris: "Is what can I say, I live in Chicago and Im a Cubs Fan, Im used to "Waiting till next year"..... "

Amen to that!! 'Cause right now, I got nuthin'!!

So true, Nancy - - but I think some of us have more "gardening blood" than others... :0)

I've come across women in my neighborhood who don't understand working in "the dirt"... They have more "walking blood" than "gardening blood" - - Okay, not so funny...

Carraie

Hmm why do I love gardening. It's exciting and fascinating and I can never know it all. That means I can learn about it for the rest of my life.
It's intense, it can make me smile, laugh or cry. It takes years to develop but brings joy one bloom at a time.
Gardening is really a focus for me. I fill my mind with it to keep all the yucky life stuff out.
Nice quote Nancy, I agree.

Woot!! Woot!! Go Nancy Drew!

My grandfather was a sharecropper, a poor sharecropper. In those days they had kids to tend to the farm. I just found out recently that my grandfather saved seeds, and thats how my father learned. They farmed 100's and 100's of acres, so I have to say its totally in my blood. My father is the one that has taught me alot about gardening and starting plants.

My grandfather passed when I was very young, but my mom says I was really close to him. When I am gardening of any sort I feel as he is watching saying thats my grand daughter, lol. I wished he was alive today to teach me more, cause there is alot I am still clueless about. Its in my blood for sure!!

I don't garden, per se... I have some containers with plants in them, does that qualify me as a gardener this year? LOL I LOVE TO LOOK AT MY PLANTS! It sounds simple enough, but I really do. I go outside every morning with my coffee (usually the kids follow me, too) and we "check out" the plants, see if they have any new growths (buds, flowerings, veggies, etc.)
During the day if I have time I will move them here and there to get the best sunlight, or in and out of the rain for watering. I guess I play with them! LOL

shelli - guess what? You're a gardener!! Yay, welcome to the group... If you care about your plants, I consider that "gardening".. whether it be in pots or in the ground...

The excitement of seeing flowers bloom is so much fun for the kids - what a good way to start them thinking about gardening someday.. and remembering all the fun with Mom

Carrie